ESF/N-AERUS International Workshop Leuven and Brussels, Belgium, 23-26 May 2001 COPING WITH INFORMALITY AND ILLEGALITY IN HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN DEVELOPING CITIES WORKSHOP PAPERS

Kelly Shannon

Comments on the background paper.
Theme 5: Urban forms and uses as expression of diversity

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ABSTRACT

It is interesting to note that in the rich, Western-based theoretical discourse of architecture and urban design, the concepts of indeterminacy, instability, flow and fluxus, and 'event-spaces', to name only a few, have emerged to the fore. Well-known writers and practitioners in America and Europe continue to develop ideas and programs that deviate from the historical conception of urban form and use. Notably, some of the leading educational institutions in the field (Harvard, Sci-Arc, Berlage Institute, Architectural Association, etc.) have recently incorporated the study of so-called developing world urbanization into their curriculum.

The corollary of such developments is the questioning of the Western, developed world's model of urbanization and modernization. As environments in the regions of the first world are continually destroyed by the abandonment of urban cores, piecemeal development and ever-persistent loss of 'countryside' to urbanization one can reasonably ask if the concentric, compact-city model of urban form (with its subsequent ribbon development and decentralized suburbs) is the correct one to begin imposing on 'the rest' (the developing world).

Perhaps, an answer lies in an understanding of these developing contexts as they are and enhancing the qualities that already exist in these environments. Can the juxtaposition of agriculture and urbanity remain as a viable asset for cities? Can informal and unplanned development be embraced in a series of strategies (not plans) that evolve in time - ever adapting to the changing political, cultural and social conditions of the place in context? Can globalization of culture and homogenisation of the built environment be halted by the acceptance of 'alternative modes of living' where informality is given a place to flourish?

The public policies regarding urban form need to be up-dated to include the contemporary discourse within the professions of architectural and urban design itself. In this regard, the terms 'informality' and 'unplanned' become assets, providing not only realistic arenas for the complexity of the current economy, but also as identity for communities.

N-AERUS: Network-Association of European Researchers on Urbanisation in the South
http://www.naerus.net